Mark Teixeira and Kevin Youkilis are expected to begin rehab stints with Double-A Trenton today, which means a return to The Bronx could be just days away.
Though that’s certainly good news for the two veterans — and potentially for the Yankees — it leaves Lyle Overbay in a somewhat familiar position.
“It’s happening?” Overbay said with a laugh before last night’s game at Citi Field. “Frick.”
Overbay again showed his value to the Yankees last night, driving in Brett Gardner with a two-out single off Matt Harvey in the sixth inning of the Yankees’ 2-1 loss to the Mets.
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“For the most part, he was pretty on,” Overbay said of the right-hander. “He just makes you uncomfortable up there, and you can’t miss if you have a chance to do something. I tried to figure it out as I went along and was successful that one time.”
Despite the progress of his two corner infielders, manager Joe Girardi said he isn’t ready to count either of his injured players back until they’re in front of him.
“Until we get to that day, I won’t say anything, but there’s ideas, obviously,” the manager said. “But things can change real quick around here.”
The Yankees found that out again when they lost Curtis Granderson for another extended stretch with a broken finger after he recovered from a fractured right forearm suffered in his first at-bat of spring training.
That kind of reality may mean Overbay could stick around even after Teixeira is back, especially because there’s no guarantee his wrist injury won’t return.
“I’m in a holding pattern until he gets back, which is 100 percent fine with me and always has been,” Overbay said. “I think they know my makeup and I’m not going to complain. They still have to protect their team and maybe that means keeping me for two more weeks to make sure Mark is good and ready.
“You hate to even say it, but you don’t want to have to look for another first baseman if something happens.”
In the meantime, Overbay said he’s prepared to become a part-time player, which is how he spent last season in Arizona and Atlanta with varying degrees of success.
“I’m fine with coexisting if they’re comfortable with it,” Overbay said. “I don’t have anything else to prove. I just want to win and I’ll do anything I can to be a part of it.”
After being picked up off the scrap heap near the end of spring training following his release from the Red Sox, Overbay has been among the most valuable replacements in the Yankees lineup.
“Do I want to play every day and be miserable?” Overbay said. “That opportunity might not be as good as it is here. I think it will work itself out.”
He could find out soon enough.
Girardi said Teixeira and Youkilis could be ready to go in time for Friday’s game against Boston in The Bronx.
The Yankees have been carrying 13 pitchers on the roster since releasing Ben Francisco and Overbay looked at their willingness to have just four outfielders as a potentially good sign.
“If they need a fifth outfielder, that’s where I’d get squeezed out,” Overbay said.
Either way, Overbay said he’s confident he’s done enough in his short time with the Yankees to merit a job somewhere.
“I think it’ll work out either way, whether in this role or another team,” Overbay said. “I feel I’ve opened some eyes.”